So last Monday was my last day of work, which means that we are a homeless and unemployed couple until January. 🙂 Kinda scary, but super exciting. Chase and I are both SO EXCITED about the coming months and what the future has in store for us. And although I already miss my BHC family and my little childrens that I worked with…

Here are some of the things I am looking forward to right now:

Family time-Today is the beginning of a two-week break with Chase! This is the first time we have been at home together with nothing to do in about 4 years. We are so thankful for the sweet family that has allowed us to stay in their guest house for a month while we are in transition. We are living on a beautiful ranch far from civilization! 🙂 Ok…it’s not THAT far…but it’s pretty far. We actually say the words “going to town”! We plan on relaxing a lot, loving on our 2 favorite pups and maybe taking some “Neature Walks.” (Now…you gotta watch this video…I almost peed my pants.) We’re gonna “get the earth moving”. Chase is dying to go hog hunting, but every time we “go to town”, we forget to buy ammo.

Trips & Traveling-We are heading to the beautiful state of Colorado in a few weeks for Chase’s last…YES, LAST…clinical rotation. He is “unlucky” enough for it to be in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. 😉 It is a 14 week rotation, and I am sure he is going to love every minute of it! 🙂 I know I am going to love spending time up there. Those Rocky Mountains are good for the soul! I am also SUPER STOKED about a girlfriend trip to New York City in October. I’m a NYC virgin and I am beside myself excited about this trip! THEN…in December Chase and I are going to Mexico for a much earned (by him) vacation after his graduation. So…I’m pretty much going to be a nomad until December. At my parent’s house, friends’ houses, Steamboat, Denver… and your house if you’ll have me! 🙂

Paleo Cooking– I am loving using new foods and learning how to cook with them. (I bought an eggplant…and I’m terrified of it!) Chase and I have stayed on track (aside from some vacation time) since the end of our “Whole 30” and I’m looking forward to learning and trying new recipes with him during our break. I am really thankful for his support in this area of my life for a number of reasons: I can count of him not to tempt me with crap food, he is just as dedicated to changing his eating habits as I am, and he is one FABULOUS COOK. Seriously…you have no idea!

Crossfit– I am refusing to even think about saying goodbye to Crossfit Benedictus in a few weeks, but I’m excited about continuing to Crossfit wherever I am, if it’s possible. I got a PR today. 3 RM Sumo Deadlift= 225 lb.

The “Big Move”– In December, Chase and I are making the move to Kerrville, after 7 great years in Abilene. Chase is going to be working in an outpatient clinic there. More on Kerrville when we know! 🙂 As of now…we have a contract for Chase’s job. That’s it. No job for Jenni, no house, no friends. Somewhat scary…but mostly exciting! We have loved it there when we have visited, and everyone always has great things to say about the town. So I guess that’s enough for us!

Now…what I’m NOT looking forward to: living out of a suitcase for 4 months.

I have definitely written the word “excited” 100 times during this post (guess I need to sharpen up on my synonyms). I’m going to leave you with a tune that is going to be our “theme song” as we are homeless drifters for the next couple of months. This song just never gets old to me!

To sum it up:

So, as you may know, I have been doing the Whole 30 Challenge over the past month…and believe it or not…today is DAY 30. WHAT? How the crap did time fly so fast? Seriously….it FLEW by!!! I wanted to share with y’all some of the things I have struggled with, learned,and achieved over these past 30 days.

Now…I’ll be really honest…I have a lump in my throat as I try to put the words together to even describe these past 30 days, because they have completely changed my life! But don’t worry…I’m gonna try not to go all “emo” on you!! 🙂

As most of you know….because it’s mostly what I blog about…. I have struggled with my weight, food addiction and self-esteem for most of my life. I have TRIED to overcome this is numerous ways. You name it…I’ve probably been there, done that, and got the free t-shirt. Weight watchers…FAIL. Health Club…FAIL. HcG…MAJOR FAIL. Overeaters anonymous…FAIL. Adkins….FAIL. Calorie counting…mostly FAIL. The Shaker Weight..just kidding. But, with the history I have going with fad diets and failed attempts to “get healthy” I was terrified that the Whole 30 would be another one to add to my list. Another failure to feel ashamed about. Another reason to pity myself. Another diet that wasn’t for me. However….this one is different. After 30 days of no sugar, grain, legumes, alcohol, or processed food I can passionately say that paleo IS for me.Because I am a lister…and that’s how I roll…

MY TOP 30 THOUGHTS on the WHOLE 30:

For the first time since I can remember….I feel in control.

Cravings for sweets and carbs that sued to literally consume my thoughts…don’t anymore.

I feel better about myself than I have since I can remember.

Doing the Whole 30 Challenge has helped me learn how to cook and prepare meals. MIRACLE.

I could live on avocados and beef…forever.

The extra money that we spend eating clean is saved by not eating out.

Going to the farmer’s market with my hubby on Saturday mornings is way fun. Something we started this month.

I feel like I am coming so much closer to understanding the concept of “Eating to Live not Living to Eat.”

The guidelines and rules of the challenge were comforting and safe. The challenge being over is kinda sad to me for this reason.

This has been an emotional transformation for me just as much or more than a physical one.

I have realized that it can actually feel good to pass on something yummy. i.e. molten chocolate cake at Chili’s. I actually didn’t die as I watched my friends indulge. 🙂

When I walk through the grocery store now…the fruits and veggies excite me more than the candy and sweets. MIRACLE.

Chase and I spend so much more time together cooking and enjoying each others company.

My energy levels have improved significantly. I no longer experience the severe energy plummet in the late afternoons.

Recovery after a hard workout has improved.

I often find myself thinking about how my dedication to the Whole 30 is the beginning of a priceless gift I will someday give my children. A mom that is health conscious.

Being dedicated for 30 days, I have proven to myself that I have the strength and will power to overcome any craving or temptation that comes my way i.e. wedding, showers, birthday parties, ice cream socials at work, eating out with friends etc.

I love my some water now. Powerade Zero, sweet peach tea, diet coke…you are dead to me. Another MIRACLE.

I do miss me some cheese!!!!!

Chase and I packed our house and moved without getting off the plan. I can do this anytime, anywhere.

I am really thankful to my family and friends that have been so supportive.

I have found some really cool blogs that have great recipes and info about paleo. Check them out on my sidebar.

I don’t feel like I am crossing a finish line now that I am at the end of the Whole 30. It was more like a warm-up lap. 🙂

Understanding more about why I eliminated the foods I did during the challenge helped me make the choices even more easily.

Talking with friends about my journey is awesome. I know that I am not the only woman in the world with these struggles!

The weight loss has been nice. I’m starting to fit into clothes I haven’t been able to wear in a while. So get up off me if I’m not necessarily dressing “in style”. And…don’t try to tell me you don’t have a pair of high school jeans you try on periodically. 😉

Having an awesome support system in my Crossfit coach Kristin has made all the difference. I would have never done the challenge had she not introduced the idea to me. I would probably be eating McDonald’s this very moment if not for her. So thankful! 🙂

For me to turn back to old habits now would be the stupidest thing I could ever do. This is working for me. This feeling I have now is better than anything I could ever, have ever, or will ever put in my mouth. I’m not giving it up!

The Weight Loss Results:

In 30 days I lost….14.5 lbs

The Plan:

I plan to keep doing what I have been doing on the Whole 30. I know if I don’t set guidelines and rules for myself though that I probably cannot be trusted. At this point and I am planning on eating strict paleo Monday-Friday and if I chose to on Saturday and Sunday have 1 meal with something non-paleo. The funny thing is…I don’t even want to do that at this point. I remember thinking on day 5 or 6 how I was going to HOUSE a large pizza at the end of this. That’s not important to me anymore. Me and Chase did reward ourselves however with this bad baby….

That’s right. A box of Island Coconut Coffee is in the mail also. SO EXCITED!

Anywho…that pretty much sums it up for me and the Whole 30. No regrets. It changed my life. Now I’m a believer! 🙂

Today is the day. I have prepared myself in all the ways I know how to. I am starting the Whole 30 Challenge today! Chase and I went shopping at Whole Foods in Dallas this weekend, cut up, pre-cooked, and planned meals to ready ourselves for this endeavor. I think that obsessing over it this weekend is what caused my nightmare last night. Here is how it went down:

Side-note: After researching and reading all weekend about the Whole 30, it is very evident that you CANNOT CHEAT. AT ALL.

This dream is very similar to the day before the first day of school ones….you know…the one where you go to school with no pants on, or everyone else’s school supplies are better than yours. What? You didn’t have that one? Well last night….I actually had a dream that I ate left over Chinese food from the refrigerator for lunch today and then realized what I had done. In my dream I bawled and cried. I remember thinking to myself, “what am I going to tell Chase?, How did I let myself do this?, What am I going to put on my blog?” Then…my alarm went off and I realized it was all just a crazy nightmare. I ended one nightmare to start another one. A real life nightmare….RUNNING. Ok…so I’m being dramatic, but it did SUCK!

I was the only one that showed up for today’s morning class, so Kristin gave me a workout to do that will be a good benchmark test for my eating challenge. We are going to do the same workout in 30 days and see how I feel. I’m hoping it is lots better than I did today!!

I’ll be logging my meals on the Whole 30 page of my blog and writing updates on how I’m doing, feeling, and OWNING this challenge. Say a prayer for me.

Have you ever had something that just gets in your head and freaks you out? Like…the one thing you feel like you can’t overcome, and if you honest with yourself, have no desire to. That’s BOX JUMPS for me. I think it may have had something to do with my shins looking something like this (but worse…honestly) after a mishap in high school doing box jumps.

This picture is of another Crossfitters leg, and she has a really cool testimony of how Crossfit has changed her life. Check it out here.

Anywho…the accident that I had in high school has been enough for me to avoid the dang boxes like the plague. I mean…it took enough courage to jump on a tire. So, with that said, today’s WOD had box jumps in them, and inconveniently enough…all of my comfortable tires had water in them from the rain over the past couple of days. AWESOME! My coach, Kristen, who is the BOMB, took this as an opportunity to help me face the music and give the dang boxes a whirl.

I really can’t explain how terrified I was to jump on the stupid box. I think after swinging my arms back and forth and taking a step to jump over 4 or 5 times, and then chickening out, Kristen finally said something along the lines of….”this is ridiculous. Just jump!” I kid you not people. It took me FOREVER to build up the courage to jump. I know it was obnoxious. I was getting on my own nerves. But eventually….JUMP I DID! And LAND IT, I DID! It felt amazing. Not only did I jump on the box 1 time, but 30 times total. I conquered that beast…and it felt SO GOOD! Here are a few pics of my UPS….(sorry they are so small)

Okay, so it was the smallest box in the BOX :). Either way, I feel so empowered! I have to say…10,000,000 thanks to my Coach Kristen! I would have never, ever gotten over this fear without her! BEST COACH EVER!